by Various
27:26 The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.
27:27 And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.
28:1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
28:2 For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.
28:3 A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.
28:4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.
28:5 Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.
28:6 Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
28:7 Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.
28:8 He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
28:10 Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.
28:11 The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.
28:12 When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.
28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
28:14 Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
28:15 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.
28:16 The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.
28:17 A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.
28:18 Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.
28:19 He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.
28:20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.
28:21 To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.
28:22 He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.
28:23 He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.
28:24 Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.
28:25 He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.
28:26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
28:27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
28:28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.
29:1 He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
29:3 Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance.
29:4 The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.
29:5 A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.
29:6 In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice.
29:7 The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.
29:8 Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.
29:9 If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.
29:10 The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.
29:11 A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
29:12 If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.
29:13 The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the LORD lighteneth both their eyes.
29:14 The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.
29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
29:16 When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall.
29:17 Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.
29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
29:19 A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer.
29:20 Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
29:21 He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length.
29:22 An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.
29:23 A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
29:24 Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.
29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
29:26 Many seek the ruler's favour; but every man's judgment cometh from the LORD.
29:27 An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.
30:1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal, 30:2 Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.
30:3 I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.
30:4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell? 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
30:6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
30:7 Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: 30:8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: 30:9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
30:10 Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.
30:11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
30:12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
30:13 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
30:14 There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.
30:15 The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough: 30:16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.
30:17 The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
30:18 There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not: 30:19 The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.
30:20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
30:21 For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear: 30:22 For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat; 30:23 For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
30:24 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: 30:25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer; 30:26 The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks; 30:27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; 30:28 The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.
30:29 There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going: 30:30 A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any; 30:31 A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.
30:32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.
30:33 Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.
31:1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
31:2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows? 31:3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
31:4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: 31:5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
31:6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
31:7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
31:8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
31:9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
31:11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
31:12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
31:13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
31:14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
31:15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
31:16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
31:17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
31:18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
31:19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
31:20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
31:21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
31:22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
31:23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
31:24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
31:25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
31:27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
31:29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
31:30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
31:31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Ecclesiastes or The Preacher
1:1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
1:2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
1:3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? 1:4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.
1:5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.
1:6 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.
1:7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.
1:8 All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
1:9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.
1:10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.
1:11 There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.
1:12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
1:13 And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.
1:14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
1:15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
1:16 I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
1:17 And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
1:18 For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
2:1 I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.
2:2 I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? 2:3 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.
2:4 I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards: 2:5 I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits: 2:6 I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: 2:7 I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me: 2:8 I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
2:9 So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
2:10 And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
2:11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit
under the sun.
2:12 And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what can the man do that cometh after the king? even that which hath been already done.
2:13 Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.